Abel to Yzerman

Seems like a good day to tie up a few loose ends, address a few issues that would typically be in my lane. Oh, you know the ones. Renegade columnists, Wing GM’s, alleged “disharmony” in the Wings room. But before we get to the Wings, I wanted to make small mention of the consistent pride all Sailors have in the Navy’s participation in our nation’s space program. You can’t beat statements like this when it comes to improving service morale.

“Crazy, diaper-wearing would-be murderer Lisa Nowak has been fired from NASA and returned to duty as a US Navy captain.”

That, my friends, is what I call fun for the whole family.

One way or another I’m going to work that wack job into the A2Y Glossary. Your suggestions as to who “Nowak” should refer to are, as always, welcome.

Next subject. Allow me to clear the air a bit. Do I dislike Bob Wojnowski? I don’t know him, so that answer is “no.” Do I find his writing to be amateurish, poor, tasteless or grammatically deficient? No. I like the way he writes. I like it so much that I wish I could read more of it…about the Wings.

But he chooses not to, unless the playoffs are near…which they are. And, so, here comes big Bob back on the bandwagon, gracing us with his Wing knowledge. Yesterday? He knows a hockey rivalry when he sees it, by god.

The playoffs are where rivalries usually are born, although we’re nearing the 10-year anniversary of that epic clash between Detroit and Avalanche on March 26, 1997. That seems like a long time ago and yet here are the Wings, still skating near the top, looking for a passion push.

Nashville is pushing. The rest of this season, we need to see the Wings push back hard, as hard as they did in this game, as hard as we remember.

“As hard as we remember”? As hard as who remembers, Bob? You? What precisely are you attempting to recall since your base of reference is so small?

When does Wojo cover the Wings? Only when necessary. April 21st? Playoff preview. May 1st? Wings down 3-2 to Edmonton. May 5th? What will Yzerman do now? July 5th? Yzerman retires. July 10th? Yzerman career recap. July 20th? Shanahan leaves. August 1st? Hasek signs. Nothing from last August through yesterday. More than six months between mentions, more than fifty columns. No Wings.

But he’s the expert now.

Hockeytown has shown signs of sickness but it’s eminently treatable. The injuries will heal, and I’ll say it again—it was a necessary gamble to grab Todd Bertuzzi and wait for his back to get better.

Say what again, Bob? When did you say that in the first place? Maybe on the radio where it takes no effort and no thought to throw in a hockey reference now and again. But not in print big boy.

So, prepare yourselves Wing fans. The playoffs are close, so the varsity’s going to ride in on their all-knowing steeds, ready to enlighten you with their views.

Speaking of enlightenment, the Hockey News has named our wunderkind Kenny it’s GM of the Year. Christy at Behind the Jersey has the write-up and I haven’t read the article, but I’ll go ahead and throw a dart.

No he’s not. David Poile? Brian Burke? Maybe. Ken Holland has done a good job of stocking a team that wins on a regular basis. He’s drafted well, with the assistance of genius scouting—a team he admittedly formed and trained. He re-tooled when money wasn’t an issue. But, no architect is Frank Lloyd Wright when your buildings collapse the way the Wings have the last three playoffs.

Paul posted this story from the Sporting News’ Ray Slover earlier this week, but I wanted to point out a quote that adds to a recent prolonged discussion here regarding malcontents in the Wing room.

Oh, yeah, one more thing about Bertuzzi: If this man can clean up his tarnished reputation, he has come to the right place to do it. The Red Wings have perhaps the best atmosphere and leadership corps of any team in the NHL.

Woops. As Paul said, you have to wonder what Andy Strickland has to say about that? Me, I’ll be a little more tactful. Andy can take that short sentence and stick it right up his…

...as I was saying, it also ties into a recent discussion associated with this post and the misguided (and poorly defended) comment from a ‘Dique fan who claims disharmony is the norm in Hockeytown.

Oh, and one final issue. Last night I told you of the painful experience of “watching” the Wings/Bubba game via Blackberry. Please keep in mind that while I appreciate your condolences when I whine like a girl, I do so for your entertainment and because it’s fun to write about. Have no fear: as soon as we get the tires off the roof of the house we’re selling in the State That Hockey Forgot and the family moves up to The Capitol, all will be well again. Thanks though, for your concerns.

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: wphoulihan@gmail.com